by Daniel Hathaway
HAPPENING TODAY:
This evening at 6:30, the Canton Symphony’s Summer Serenades brings a harp & flute duet to Fry Family Park in Magnolia, and at 7 pm, The Cleveland Orchestra presents an evening with John Legend (pictured) at Blossom. Anthony Parnther conducts (read a preview interview here).
For details of these and other classical events, visit the ClevelandClassicaal.com Concert Listings.
TODAY’S ALMANAC:
by Jarrett Hoffman
The Amati are one of the most important families of luthiers in the history of the violin, and on this date in 1684, the greatest instrument maker in that family, Nicola Amati, died in Cremona, Italy. Some say that his instruments, particularly the larger and wider “Grand Pattern” ones, were known for producing more power in their tone.
On the other hand, the Smithsonian Institution describes the instruments as beautiful and penetrating in their sound, though not powerful. Have a look at one of the instruments in the possession of the National Museum of American History here, and watch a short demonstration of both an Amati and a copy on YouTube.
And Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé was born on this date in 1933. A beautiful summary of her life and career can be found in her 2018 obituary by Margalit Fox in The New York Times, in which Fox describes her as “among the last of the old-time prima donnas for the transcendent purity of her voice, the sweeping breadth of her repertory and the delirious adulation of her fans…” Here’s a pairing to show off her beautiful voice in two very different contexts: “O mio babbino caro” from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, and the single “Barcelona” from the album of the same name, a collaboration with Freddie Mercury.
